Steamboat Springs

The taxi business
in Steamboat Springs just became more competitive, as the Alpine
Gondola Taxi opened for business over the weekend.

"I was inspired
by the developments at Wildponies," said Alpine Gondola Taxi owner
Sky Lookalikacrappa. "And I thought to myself, 'If they can get
approved to run a gondola into a friggin' housing development, why
can't I just take that a few steps further, and link the whole town
by gondola?'"

Although laying
the infrastructure of 147 miles of high-density steel cable and 342
five-story towers was an expensive process, Mr. Lookalikacrappa
feels that all the effort was worthwhile. Steamboat residents and
tourists alike can now jump in a gondola car at any of the 39 stops
throughout the city and be transported through the air to their
neighborhoods, favorite bars or, yes, even the ski resort, in a
matter of minutes.

The project had
received near-unanimous opposition from the community, but it
passed through the planning process and was begrudgingly approved
by City Council unanimously.

The
2006 GOP Convention was welcomed heartily to its unusual location
in the U.S. National Forest in North Routt County. An estimated
15,000 party faithful have arrived for the event, including several
candidates for national office and a throng of well-heeled
supporters.

A
caravan of brand-new Hummers, Escalades, Mercedes and BMWs have
been passing through Steamboat Springs on their way to the remote
location 27 miles to the northeast. Banners proclaiming their
arrival have been strung across Lincoln Ave., as their tourist
dollars are expected to flood the town in the wake of their
arrival.

"We
couldn't be more excited about them coming to our forest," said
U.S. Forest Service spokesperson, Major Doublestandard. "These
people are at the highest levels of wealth and power in the world,
and we just want them to feel...